u are all perfectly horrid, don't you know! I'll not remain
another minute!" and he fled from the dormitory, the laughter of the
crowd ringing in his ears as he departed.

CHAPTER XII

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE STAIRS

In a few days the Rover boys felt perfectly at home once more--indeed it
was as if they had never been away, so Sam said. The majority of the
students were old friends, although there was a fair sprinkling of new
boys.

It was not until the end of the week that Dick Rover came into contact
with Tad Sobber, a stocky youth, with a shock of black hair and eyes
which were cold and penetrating. Sobber was with a chum named Nick Pell,
and both eyed Dick in a calculating manner which was highly offensive.

"He's the fellow who does the hero act," whispered Sobber to Pell, in a
manner meant to reach Dick's ears. "Wants to make a regular grand-stand
play all the time."

Without hesitation Dick wheeled about.

"Was that remark intended for me?" he demanded, sharply.

His suddenness took Tad Sobber off his guard.

"What if it was?" he demanded in return.

"I don't like it, that's all."

"Humph! I don't care whether you like it or not," grunted Sobber.

"See here, Tad Sobber, let us have an understanding," said Dick, calmly.
"I understand that you are trying to bully everybody in this school.
Now, this cannot be. We have had several bullies here and we have gotten
rid of them all. We want no more."

"Humph! Trying to be the bully yourself, eh?" sneered Sobber.

"No, I am only giving you warning. The other boys have told me about
you."

"Tad has a right to act as he pleases," put in Nick Pell.

"No, he has not. Captain Putnam expects every student here to be a
gentleman."

"Oh, don't preach, Rover," cried Tad Sobber. "I can take care of myself
without your advice."

"Well, I warn you to keep your distance so far as I am concerned and
keep a civil tongue in your head," said Dick.

What this war of words might have led to there is no telling. Just at
that moment the school bell rang, and all of the students had to hurry
to their respective classes.

It may be mentioned here that Sam, Tom and Dick were now in the same
grade. This may be wondered at, but the fact of the matter was that Sam,
by hard work the term previous, had caught up to Tom, while Dick,
because of being away on some business for his father at various times,
had dropped a little behind.

"Had a little run-in with Sobber," s